Over time, refrigerators tend to accumulate stubborn stains and unpleasant odors from raw or spilled food. It is essential to clean and deodorize your fridge to maintain a hygienic and safe environment for your food.
Among the various cleaning methods, one simple and effective approach is to use lemons. You’ll be amazed at how well it works and how safe it is.
What are the benefits of using lemons in the refrigerator?
Lemons are rich in citric acid, a natural acid with powerful cleansing properties. When you squeeze lemon juice into your refrigerator, the citric acid reacts with stains and buildup, breaking them down and making them easier to remove. This is especially useful for tackling stubborn stains from spilled food or residue from milk and fruit juices.
Using lemons in the refrigerator offers the following specific benefits:
Effective Cleaning
To clean your refrigerator with lemons, simply squeeze lemon juice into a turned-off fridge and use a soft cloth to wipe down the interior surfaces. The stains will disappear quickly. After cleaning with lemon juice, it’s a good idea to wipe the surfaces again with a damp cloth to remove any remaining acid and prevent corrosion.
What’s the benefit of squeezing lemon into the refrigerator? (Photo: Getty)
Alternatively, you can mix lemon juice with warm water and a little salt. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, shake well, and spray it into the nooks and crannies of your refrigerator. Then, use a dry cloth to wipe everything down.
Note: It’s best to use seedless lemons. If your lemons have seeds, be sure to remove them before putting the juice into the spray bottle. After spraying the solution, immediately wipe it down with a dry cloth, as prolonged exposure to acid can damage the fridge’s surfaces.
Deodorizing the Fridge
Raw foods in the refrigerator can create an environment conducive to bacterial growth, resulting in unpleasant odors. These odors can not only be bothersome but also affect the taste of other foods. Fortunately, lemons, with their natural fragrance, can absorb and eliminate these unpleasant smells.
After cleaning your refrigerator, cut lemons into slices and place them in the corners, or cut a lemon into quarters without separating the pieces and place it inside. The lemon slices will absorb the unpleasant odors from the food, keeping your fridge fresh. After a few days, the lemon slices will dry out, so replace them with fresh ones to maintain the deodorizing effect.
Bacteria Elimination and Mold Prevention
The high humidity and presence of various foods in refrigerators create an ideal environment for bacterial growth and mold development. However, citric acid in lemons has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, helping to eliminate bacteria and prevent mold growth.
To enhance the antibacterial effect, you can combine lemons with other ingredients like salt and baking soda. For instance, cut a thick lemon slice, sprinkle it with 1-2 teaspoons of salt and 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda, and place it in the fridge. This mixture will help clean and disinfect more effectively.
Lemons are effective in deodorizing the refrigerator (Photo: Shutterstock)
Additional Tips for Odor Removal During Fridge Cleaning
After cleaning, if you want to eliminate any lingering odors, try the following:
– Wash and dry orange or tangerine peels, then place them in the corners of your refrigerator. This natural citrus oil deodorizer can keep your fridge smelling fresh for up to three days.
– Mix coffee grounds with baking soda and place the mixture in the fridge. This combination is highly effective at eliminating long-lasting unpleasant odors.
According to VTC News
